Greater Purple Fringed Orchid SEED

Greater Purple Fringed Orchid, Platanthera grandiflora, is stunning in the summer bog garden. It has a large, bright purple cylindrical cluster of 30-75+ dainty flowers with showy, fringed lips and long spurs. It is a late summer bloomer, and flowers last for a month or more. Leaves are long and lanceolate, reducing to small bracts with the flower cluster. Flower spikes are tall and benefit from staking, and protection from the wind. Best flowering occurs with plants in full sun, shade tends to reduce flower size and abundance. It is a bog plant which grows in open, acid bogs with sphagnum moss, but is adaptable to drier, upland conditions, as long as the soil remains damp during flowering. It does best in wet conditions, and frequent sends out a stolon budding small plants. It is an adaptable and vigorous grower. Seeds are very fine and can be a challenge to germinate. It is winter hardy, and should be protected from rodents during dormancy. Mulch with 4+" of pine needles in the Fall. Leave at least a 1" of needles after spring cleanup. The rhizomes can be stored in damp sphagnum at 35°F (2°C) in a refrigerator for 3 or 4 months. Water with rain/distilled water, they are sensitive to mineral buildup. It spreads nicely and grows well among pitcher plants. It is nearly identical to the Yellow Fringed Orchid in all respects, except color. It is a late summer star in the bog garden, and makes good cut flowers.

Seed Packs are fresh harvested in the Fall, and stored refrigerated. Seed count is approximate, but reliable. Note: All seeds are produced from open pollination within our collection. Some cross pollination among different cultivars may occur. Growing carnivorous plants from seeds is best suited for the experienced and patient grower. See our webpage on Growing CPs from Seeds.